# US 2019/0167398 A1 · Dental flosser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167398 A1 - Document ID: US20190167398A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/831,725 - Filed: 2017-12-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-05 - Inventors: Lori Bixby - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167398A1 ## CPC - A61C 15/046: {Flossing tools} - A61C 15/043: {Containers, dispensers, or the like, e.g. with cutting means (A61C15/046 takes precedence)} - A46B 15/0071: {Toothbrushes with flossing arrangements (A61C15/04 takes precedence)} - A61C 15/042: {comprising protuberances along its length, e.g. balls or knots} - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) ## Abstract In one embodiment, a dental flosser includes a handle and a housing coupled to the handle. The housing includes a chamber for rotatably receiving a spool having first top and bottom surfaces and a side surface and having a supply of floss wound about the side surface, the supply of floss having second top and bottom surfaces. The housing further includes a floss orifice for directing at least a portion of the supply of floss therethrough. The dental flosser also includes an actuator including at least one contact surface configured to frictionally engage at least one of the first top surface, the first bottom surface, the second top surface, or the second bottom surface. The actuator further includes a biasing member for biasing the at least one contact surface relative to the spool. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dental flosser comprising: a handle; a housing coupled to the handle, the housing including a chamber for rotatably receiving a spool having first top and bottom surfaces and a side surface and having a supply of floss wound about the side surface, the supply of floss having second top and bottom surfaces, the housing further including a floss orifice for directing at least a portion of the supply of floss therethrough; and an actuator including at least one contact surface configured to frictionally engage at least one of the first top surface, the first bottom surface, the second top surface, or the second bottom surface, the actuator further including a biasing member for biasing the at least one contact surface relative to the spool. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dental flosser of claim 1, further comprising a seal positioned within the floss orifice. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dental flosser of claim 1, further comprising a blade positioned on the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dental flosser of claim 1, wherein the biasing member includes a spring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dental flosser of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes at least one radially extending projection and wherein the at least one contact surface is positioned on the at least one projection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The dental flosser of claim 5, wherein the at least one projection includes a pair of arms. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The dental flosser of claim 5, wherein the at least one projection includes a generally circular flange. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The dental flosser of claim 5, wherein the at least one contact surface is positioned on a bottom of the at least one projection and configured to frictionally engage the top surface of the spool to lock the spool against rotation, and wherein the biasing member is configured to bias the at least one contact surface away from the spool. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The dental flosser of claim 5, wherein the at least one contact surface is positioned on a top of the at least one projection and configured to frictionally engage the bottom surface of the spool to lock the spool against rotation, and wherein the biasing member is configured to bias the at least one contact surface toward the spool. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The dental flosser of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a top housing portion and a bottom housing portion removably coupled together. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The dental flosser of claim 1, wherein the chamber is generally circular. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The dental flosser of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an aperture aligned with the chamber and wherein the actuator includes a button extending through the aperture. ### Claim 13 A dental flosser comprising: a handle; a housing coupled to the handle, the housing including a chamber and a floss orifice; a spool rotatably received in the chamber, the spool having first top and bottom surfaces and a side surface and having a supply of floss wound about the side surface, the supply of floss having second top and bottom surfaces, wherein at least a portion of the supply of floss is configured to be directed through the floss orifice of the housing; and an actuator including at least one contact surface configured to frictionally engage at least one of the first top surface, the first bottom surface, the second top surface, or the second bottom surface, the actuator further including a biasing member for biasing the at least one contact surface relative to the spool. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The dental flosser of claim 13, wherein the spool includes a generally cylindrical body and wherein the top and bottom surfaces are positioned on the generally cylindrical body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The dental flosser of claim 13, wherein the spool includes a generally cylindrical body and top and bottom flanges extending radially outwardly from the generally cylindrical body, and wherein the top and bottom surfaces are positioned on the top and bottom flanges, respectively.